GETTING STARTED
Sin is serious, and it has consequences both in our own lives and in the lives of those we care about. The human tendency is to be deceived into thinking our sin is personal and private and does not affect others. But sin will always become public and will always reap its consequences. The sobering thing about today’s passage is that it shows God is never going to wink at our actions; our actions will always become public. However, one of the comforting aspects of these verses is that God is in charge of our days and destiny.
- In what ways have you seen what you thought was personal in your life create circumstances for others?
READ THE WORD: GENESIS 49:13-21, 27 (ESV)
13 “Zebulun shall dwell at the shore of the sea;
he shall become a haven for ships,
and his border shall be at Sidon.
14 “Issachar is a strong donkey,
crouching between the sheepfolds.
15 He saw that a resting place was good,
and that the land was pleasant,
so he bowed his shoulder to bear,
and became a servant at forced labor.
16 “Dan shall judge his people
as one of the tribes of Israel.
17 Dan shall be a serpent in the way,
a viper by the path,
that bites the horse’s heels
so that his rider falls backward.
18 I wait for your salvation, O Lord.
19 “Raiders shall raid Gad,
but he shall raid at their heels.
20 “Asher’s food shall be rich,
and he shall yield royal delicacies.
21 “Naphtali is a doe let loose
that bears beautiful fawns.
27 “Benjamin is a ravenous wolf,
in the morning devouring the prey
and at evening dividing the spoil.”
English Standard Version, copyright 2001 by Crossway Bibles. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
DIGGING DEEPER
(Note that verses 22-26 will be covered in tomorrow’s study.)
- What are the statements that indicate boundary and role?
- What are the statements that indicate character and disposition?
- Are you trusting God with the boundaries of your life, regardless of the circumstances presented?
- Do you trust the Lord enough to use the boundaries and details of your life that you would rather change?
RESPOND TO GOD
Zebulun: here is the boundary of your place. Issachar: here is the character of your being. Dan: here is your task and role. Asher and Naphtali: here are the details of your way of life. Benjamin: here is your disposition and way of leading. Do you realize that God has marked your place, character, task, role, living, and disposition? He calls you, in all of these things, to live righteously as one blessed and as one who is a blessing. Jesus told Peter to beware because sin was crouching as his door, waiting to sift him. The grace of God is more powerful than the sin that crouches, and yet sin will reap destructive consequences.
- Spend some time talking to God. Use this as a guide to your prayer about challenges in your life: Lord, you know that I struggle with _________ in my life that you have allowed/placed. I confess to you that often my pain and frustration seem larger than my trust of your power and plan. If left to myself, I would change __________ about my story. Today, I submit ___________ to you, trusting that you will not only redeem it in my life but use it as a blessing for me to trust you deeper and to bless others. Thank you for ___________. Your grace is more powerful!